Every time you take a trip, your luggage may pass through many hands, including those of the airline crew, a taxi or bus driver, the hotel bellhop, or a tour operator.
“Think about all the places you’re dragging your luggage through streets and different environments and how many people are touching it if you’re flying or staying in hotels,” says Jan Louise Jones, program coordinator for hospitality and tourism management at the University of New Haven. All that exposure to other people and places can cause dirt, dust and germs to accumulate on your bags. And who wants to touch those nasty things, much less bring them home? That’s why it’s important to clean your luggage.
“Cleaning luggage is about more than just appearance it’s about health as well,” says Jason Tetro, a microbiologist in Edmonton, Alberta, and author of “The Germ Code” and “The Germ Files.” “Luggage is a vector for the transfer of pathogens [infectious agents that cause disease], which means it could transmit infections to you.” Here are tips from experts on how to clean your luggage properly.
How to clean the outside of luggage
When you’re traveling, as soon as you get to your destination Tetro recommends at least cleaning the luggage’s handle “because that’s the one thing everybody touches,” he says and the zipper tabs with an antimicrobial wipe or a clean rag or microfiber cloth and a little disinfectant, such as hydrogen peroxide.
Regardless of where you’re staying, you should never put your bags on the bed. Use the
luggage rack or the top of the dresser, or place bags in the bathroom so you don’t spread dirt and germs to the bed. And when you get home, put the luggage on the floor or in the bathroom, for the same reasons.
Once you’re home, clean the outside of the suitcase, including the handle and zipper tabs. “To clean hard-sided luggage, rub it down with either an antibacterial wipe or a rag with a mix of dish soap and water,” says Kristin DiNicolantonio, senior director of stakeholder communications at the American Cleaning Institute in Washington, D.C. A damp eraser sponge can help remove any scuff marks. Soft suitcases made of nylon, canvas or polyester “are going to absorb more of the environment around them,” DiNicolantonio says. You can use the same tools: an antibacterial wipe or a mix of soap and water and a clean cloth to clean it. “Work the solution gently into the fibers of the luggage with a soft brush such as a toothbrush or plastic bristle brush to pull up any dirt and stains,” she says. Then, “wipe away the excess moisture and residue before letting the case dry in the sun or an airy spot.”
Don’t forget about the bottom of the bag and the wheels. “Remove any debris such as carpet fibers, dirt and hair from the wheels so that each wheel turns and spins freely along its axis,” DiNicolantonio says. You can use scissors to cut out anything that’s really lodged in there. Once the wheels are free and clear, wipe them and the bottom of the bag with a disinfecting cleaner or an antibacterial wipe.
There’s no need to clean the inside of your luggage while you’re traveling, unless something spills, in which case you’ll want to clean the lining with soap and water and a washcloth or a disinfecting wipe. But toting around shoes
“Cleaning
luggage is about more than just appearance — it’s about health as well,” says Jason Tetro, a microbiologist in Edmonton,
and dirty clothes could leave dirt or, even worse, a funky smell inside.
Tetro recommends placing stinky items in plastic bags. It will help keep odors from transferring to other items and prevent your luggage from absorbing those unpleasant smells.
Once you’re home and unpacked, vacuum the inside of the bag, including the pockets and corners, or take the suitcase outside, open it and shake it to get rid of lingering dirt, crumbs or other debris. “Some companies now use antimicrobial ingredients in the fabrics,” Tetro says, which can reduce concerns about transporting germs.
Next, sanitize the inside of your luggage so your clothes don’t adopt a stale smell the next time you travel, says Leslie Reichert, the Green Cleaning Coach and author of “The Joy of Green Cleaning.” She recommends combining half a cup of witch hazel or rubbing alcohol with eight to 10 drops of an essential oil (such as lavender or lemon) in a spray bottle. Spray a light mist of the solution throughout the inside
Alberta. (ADOBE STOCK IMAGES)
Regardless of where you’re staying, you should never put your bags on the bed.
of the suitcase or duffel bag, then leave the luggage open to let it dry, she says.
Between trips, Reichert recommends giving the inside of your luggage a quick wipe down with a damp rag or a
disinfectant every two to three months to keep it fresh and clean.
And after cleaning your luggage, remember to clean your hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
Besides helping you avoid exposure to germs that could make you sick, taking these steps can benefit your luggage, too. “It helps with preservation,” Jones says. “It can keep your luggage in better condition inside and out.”
IT’S A SAD DAY HERE on the farmden: the end of blueberry season. Frozen blueberries, that is. Seventy quarts went into the freezer last summer, and a lot more than that into our bellies, and now they’re all finished.
A happy day here on the farmden: the first of this season’s blueberries are ripening. These blueberries, and those that were in the freezer, are the large “highbush” (Vaccinium corymbosum) varieties commonly found fresh on market shelves. Also ripening now are “lowbush” (V. angustifolium) blueberries, growing as a decorative, edible ground cover on the east-facing bed against my home.
I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again. After many, many years of growing fruits in my not-particularly-good-for-fruit-growing site, blueberries — a native fruit — have always yielded well. Two most important things are adapting the soil to blueberries’ unique requirements and keeping birds at bay. Birds at bay? Best is a walk-in, netted area.
Soil for blueberries needs to be very acidic, with a pH between 4 and 5.5, made so, if needed, with the addition of sulfur, a naturally mined
mineral. The pelletized form is best because it’s not dusty. Blueberry roots need good drainage and consistent moisture. They thrive in ground rich in organic matter, maintained with an annual three-inch topping of some weed-free, organic material such as wood shavings, wood chips, straw, pine needles, or autumn leaves.
(That’s the bare bones for success with blueberries. For a deeper dive into growing this healthful, delicious, reliable fruit, stay tuned for my soon-to-be-aired blueberry webinar.)
Just as last year’s apples were losing their crispness and tang and I needed a change from oranges, other berries, in addition to blueberries have started changing color, softening, and turning flavorful.
Black currants are another one of my favorites now ripening. They admittedly have an intense flavor not to everyone’s liking.
But everyone likes black currants conjured up into juices, pastries, or jam. Variety matters. My favorites are Belaruskaja, Minaj Smyrev, and Titania.
Don’t think black currants taste anything like “dried” or “Zante” currants. Those are raisins, originally made
from “Black Corinth” grapes, a name then bastardized to “black currant.”
Like blueberries, black currants are easy to grow. But they have no special soil requirements, they fruit well even in some shade, and deer rarely eat the bushes and
birds rarely eat the berries. Another tasty morsel now ripe is gumi (Elaeagnus multiflora). Birds usually strip this shrub clean of fruit, except this year the crop is so abundant that neither I nor the birds can make much of a dent in it. The berries
are a little astringent if not dead ripe. And not at all if the fruit is processed; last year I cooked them slightly, strained out the seeds (which are edible), and blended it before drying it into a “leather.”
Berkshire Botanical Garden presents the following upcoming programs: Wednesday, June 19, 5 to 7 p.m., “Cocktails in Great Gardens.”
Exact location and directions will be emailed to you upon registration. BBG’s Cocktails in Great Gardens series provides a rare opportunity for guests to savor a drink and a nibble in some of the finest private gardens in the region. Book early, as tickets may be limited, and they always go fast. Join in for a unique opportunity to tour Church House, Page Dickey and Bosco Schell’s gardens and surrounding 17 acres of fields and woods located in Falls Village, Conn. Ideally situated with a view of the Berkshire
Hills, it is a gardener’s classroom with groves of shadblow (Amelanchier), a saltwater pool accented by hydrangeas and flowering shrubs, and a small cottage garden surrounding the house. Meadow paths rich in native flowers lead to a lime rock-strewn woodland and ravine with a vernal pool. Cost $45 members, $55 nonmembers; On Saturday, June 22, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Join gardening expert Ron Kujawski in his teaching garden in West Stockbridge,
as he demonstrates his home garden tips and tricks. Learn first-hand about the different planting strategies for crops using raised beds, mounding and vertical space. Explore in-garden composting and pest management and how to adapt to no-till gardening. Ron starts seeds in the basement where he’s set up benches, heating mats and fluorescent lights. Then he moves the seedlings of cool-season vegetables to his unheated greenhouse while the warm-season vegetables are placed on benches in south-facing windows in his house. As the weather improves, he sets them out on the deck before moving them to the garden under row covers. No transportation will be provided. Garden location will be shared upon class registration. Cost $25 members, $40 nonmembers. To register or for more information, visit berkshirebotanical.org.
Berkshire Botanical Garden is located at 5 West Stockbridge Road.
The gumi shrub itself has silver leaves, providing an attractive backdrop for the red fruits. The flowers are extremely fragrant, and the roots enrich the soil by taking nitrogen from the air (with the help of an actinomycete microorganism.)
Also now abundant, with plenty for all, is Nanking cherry (Prunus tomentosa), a favorite of mine for beauty and easy-to-grow cherries. The cherries are small, usually no larger than about 3/8 inch. But the single pit is also small. Flavor lies somewhere on the spectrum between sweet and sour cherries, very refreshing especially when chilled. All is not rosy in the berry-size fruit world. Over the years, I had heard about and tried a new fruit in town, edible honeysuckles. In the past, the plants I tried either died over winter or bore very few, very mediocre berries. Since then, edible honeysuckles have come up in the world, with serious breed-
ing work, and I was given the opportunity to try them again. (As Maria Schinz said, “Gardening is an exercise in optimism.”)
But first, what is an edible honeysuckle, which now goes under better names. If called “honeyberry,” it usually refers to Russian species such as Lonicera caerulea app. kamtshatica or edulis. Haskap is a Japanese name applied the Japanese species L. caerulea spp. emphylocalyx, or to hybrids of this species with Russian species. Pure Japanese species varieties are sometimes called Yezberry, after the Island of Hokkaido, called Yez or Yezo Island where they are found. The
Japanese species and hybrids are less susceptible to spring frosts than the honeyberries. This spring I planted out two Yezberry varieties, Solo and Sugar Mountain Blue. The small, blue berries ripen early, and I was eager to give this fruit another try. Solo is bearing. The taste? Awful!, sour, with no other flavor. But I’m not abandoning edible honeysuckles. I’ve learned that the berries need to hang on the branches for a long time before developing full flavor and sweetness.
A number of varieties are available, some of which are, according to others, “Delicious when eaten fresh from the plant” and “a bit like a
cross between a raspberry and a blueberry. . . sweetness of a raspberry with a hint of pleasant tartness.” Really?! I recently planted the variety Aurora, which is supposed to be among the best for flavor. And I brought some to a chef I know; he said their flavor was excellent!
Many blueberries are still hanging on my Solo bush. I’ll leave them to hang longer there and perhaps morph from “awful” to “delicious,”
Forbes Library outdoor garden, highlighted by a statue of the Greek goddess Athena by Brian McQuillan is now open. There was a ribbon cutting ceremony that was held on June 15. The garden is dedicated to the memory of Tom Ruane, an avid reader. It is a generous gift from his family, designed by his wife, Eileen Travis. The garden honors the Victorian era of the building, featuring low-maintenance, primarily native plants that would have thrived in gardens of that time.
Send items for Garden Notes to pmastriano@repub.com two weeks prior to publication.
This year Ware Grange is holding fun and educational gardening workshops for kids. The next Kids’ Corner at Ware Grange will be “Backyard Bugs!” and will take place on Saturday, June 22, at 9:30 a.m. at the Grange Hall at 297 Belchertown Road. Kids’ Corner workshops are led by local preschool teacher, Jen McNally. In this workshop, kids will explore the tiny creatures called insects, including the life cycle of insects and how to collect and observe bugs in their own backyard. Kids will enjoy a story and participate in a craft. Visit Ware Grange on Facebook or at waregrange.org for more information.
and will report back. I have hope for this new fruit, not yet high hopes. At the very least, honeyberries or haskaps might be able to tide me over from the end of frozen blueberries to the first of the season’s fresh blueberries.
Any gardening questions? Email them to me at garden@ leereich.com and I’ll try answering them directly or in this column. Come visit my garden at leereich.com/blog.
Berkshire Botanical Garden.
FATHER’S DAY IS A good time to remember that many design firms of the 19th and 20th centuries were family businesses. Some of the most famous glassmakers, ceramicists and metalsmiths followed their fathers into business, and many famous company names end in “and Sons.”
This coin silver coffee pot, which sold for $1,860 at an auction by Leland Little, was made by S. Kirk & Son of Baltimore, one of the bestknown American silversmiths. Samuel Kirk opened his first silver store in 1815. He started partnering with his sons in 1846; the company was known as S. Kirk & Son from 1846 to 1861 and S. Kirk & Sons from 1861 to 1868. The firm was known for its coin silver.
Samuel Kirk is credited with introducing hand-hammered repousse designs to America. His decoration style, with allover designs like landscapes, flowers or architecture in low relief, is still known as Baltimore silver. After his death in 1872, his son and grandson continued the company. The name changed to S. Kirk & Son Co. in 1896. The company was bought by the Stieff Company in 1979, and Kirk Stieff, as it is now known, is still active today.
Q. I have items from Japan and China, pre-WWII, collected by a missionary and sent home. There are linens, a watercolor from 1928, two matching small hand-painted bottles, a small brass box similar to a jewelry box, old postcards, photos, etc. I would like to know if they have any value or possible interest from collectors.
A. Yes, there is plenty of collector interest in the kinds of items you mentioned. They sell at general antiques auctions and shops, so you may want to look for a shop in your area or auction that
American silversmith Samuel Kirk was in business with his sons when they made this scenic coin silver coffeepot. (LELAND LITTLE)
deals in Asian art. You may also want to find a specialist for the postcards and photos. If you are planning to sell the items, you may want to seek a professional appraisal. You can find a qualified appraiser through the American Society of Appraisers (www. appraisers.org), the International Society of Appraisers (www.isa-appraisers.org) or the Appraisers Association of America (www.appraisersassociation.org). If you have any documentation of the item’s provenance, it will increase the value.
Q. My dad collected a number of limited-edition wildlife prints produced by mostly Sallie Ellington Middleton, Guy Coheleach and Charles Frances. Most were signed by the artist and/or were
the public; check if there are any near you. If you are planning to sell the prints, we recommend contacting an antiques dealer or auction gallery that sells similar artwork.
Q. I have 10 King’s Crown cranberry red flashed goblets, as well as eight King’s Crown ruby flashed sherbet dishes. I would appreciate any information on possible avenues to pursue for disposing of them.
Current prices are recorded from antiques shows, flea markets, sales and auctions throughout the United States. Prices vary in different locations because of local economic conditions.
Glass, blown, bowl, light aqua, overall lattice, folded rim, bubbles, pontil, molded, 4 x 12 1/2 inches, $60.
Lamp, electric, three-light, torchiere, Baroque style, gilt bronze, leafy scrolls, twist stem, round foot, painted, Continental, early 1900s, 78 1/2 inches, pair, $250.
numbered. My dad has since passed away and my mom is interested to see if any of these are of value, how to determine a fair price and where to find potential buyers. I tried to use rareartfinder.com or invaluable.com to determine estimated values but was curious if you could give me directions on how to proceed.
A. Wildlife prints are always popular among collectors and decorators. Prints by the artists you mentioned have sold for anywhere from about $25 to more than $200 at recent auctions. Check to see if your library has a subscription to databases like Artnet or MutualArt where you can look up prices. Some art museums or galleries have appraisal days open to
A. The King’s Crown glass pattern, also known as Ruby Thumbprint, has been made by many companies since 1891. The best-known maker is probably Tiffin Glass Company of Tiffin, Ohio. You could sell your dishes on consignment, to an antiques dealer or to a matching service. Pressed glass, cranberry glass and ruby glass are popular with collectors. There are many glass collectors’ clubs throughout the U.S., like the National American Glass Club (www.glassclub.org) and Early American Pattern Glass Society (www.eapgs. org), that may be able to help you find more resources or connect you with potential buyers. There is also a Tiffin Glass Museum and collectors’ club (www.tiffinglass. org).
TIP: When you open your windows in warm weather, watch out for blowing curtains. They may hit glass or china displayed nearby and cause damage.
Terry Kovel and Kim Kovel answer readers’ questions sent to the column. Send a letter with one question describing the size, material (glass, pottery) and what you know about the item. Include only two pictures, the object and a closeup of any marks or damage. Be sure your name and return address are included. By sending a question, you give full permission for use in any Kovel product. Names, addresses or email addresses will not be published.
Chinese Export, hot water plate, orange Fitzhugh, four figures alternate with flower vases, butterflies and treasures around rim, 11 inches, $260.
Leather, wallet, Bottega Venetta, black woven exterior, button closure, eight card pockets, cash compartment, zippered change compartment, marked, Italy, 6 3/4 inches, $330.
Advertising, can, Dad’s Root Beer, cone top, yellow checked ground, Delicious Dad’s Old Fashioned Root Beer, mug, glass of root beer with hot dog, Continental Can Co., c. 1950, quart, $335.
Toy, train car, Marklin, locomotive, green, SE800, die cast, electric, HO gauge, box, c. 1950, 6 inches, $450.
Furniture, table, Pembroke, black lacquer, gilt Chinoiserie scenes, two front drawers, 19th century, 29 x 12 x 19 inches, $470.
Fenton, planter, Pachyderm, figural, elephant, head lowered, green, uranium glass, c. 1927, 7 x 9 x 4 inches, $660.
Clock, advertising, Borden’s Ice Cream, round, glass front, Elsie with flowers, blue ground, lights up, tin sign above, c. 1950, 21 x 15 inches, $1,070.
Nautical, binnacle, mahogany, brass and glass hood, red and green navigator spheres, compass, oil lamp, porcelain burner, square plinth foot, brass maker’s plaque, Kelvin & Hughes, 20th century, 49 1/2 inches, $1,750.
We do not guarantee the return of photographs, but if a stamped envelope is included, we will try. Questions that are answered will appear in Kovels Publications. Write to Kovels, The Republican, King Features Syndicate, 628 Virginia Dr., Orlando, FL 32803 or email us at collectorsgallery@kovels.com.
Mortgage rates eased again last week, though the latest pullback leaves the average rate on a 30-year home loan at close to 7%, where it’s been much of this year.
The rate fell to 6.95% from 6.99% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. A year ago, the rate averaged 6.69%.
Borrowing costs on 15-year fixed-rate mortgages, popular with homeowners refinancing their home loans, also eased this week, lowering the average rate to 6.17% from 6.29% last week. A year ago, it averaged 6.10%, Freddie Mac said.
Home loan rates are influenced by several factors, including how the bond market reacts to the Federal Reserve’s interest rate policy and the moves in the 10-year Treasury yield, which lenders use as a guide to pricing home loans.
Yields have eased recently following some economic data showing slower growth.
On Thursday, a report showed inflation at the wholesale level fell from April into May. That followed a surprisingly encouraging update on inflation at the consumer level a day earlier.
Federal Reserve officials said Wednesday that inflation has fallen further toward their target level of 2% in recent months but signaled that they expect to cut their benchmark interest rate just once this year. That’s down from their previous projection of three cuts.
Until the Fed begins lowering its short-term rate, long-term mortgage rates are unlikely to ease significantly, economists say.
Clark Dore and James Acerra to Tyler Howe, 41 Federal Ave., $290,000.
Colin M. Deforge and Sara Deforge to Igor Varenyev and Vera Varenyev, 137 Florida Drive, $300,000.
Gail Stone and William J. Stone to Aldo Yacteen and Laurie M. Yacteen, 340 Regency Park Drive, Unit 38, $135,000.
Heather Hammond and Heidi Amaral to Kozhenevsky Properties LLC, 0 North Westfield Street, $300,000.
Jason E. Merriam, Khristin A. Merriam and Kristin A. Merriam to Jash B. Baniya and Juli Baniya, 31 Letendre Ave., $475,000.
Joseph T. Moccio to Paul Barkyoumb and Jill Clifford-Barkyoumb, 576 Southwick St., $349,900.
Linda Jefferson to Caitlin Coffey, 4 Beekman Drive, Unit 4, $255,000.
Peter J. Ferri and Judith A. Ferri to Tarek Firzli and Veronica Firzli, 6 Maple Meadows Lane, $485,000.
Sinh La and Quyen Ngo to Muhammad A Razzaq and Uzma Razzaq, 108-110 Sheri Lane, $400,000.
Stacee Alane Mills and Stacee A. Cole to Austen J. Gilman and Tia M. Gilman, 33 Woodside Drive, $335,000.
Amir Mikhchi and Fatemeh Giahi to Ann Frances Paradis and Marcia Joi Zutautas, 70 Leverett Road, $460,000.
Samah Jafari to Jeff J. Mitchell and Emily J. Simpson, 64 Heatherstone Road, $611,000.
Linda B. Sheley to Nicole K. Sheley, trustee, and Linda B. Sheley Irrevocable Trust, 294 Potwine Lane, $100.
Lawrence W. Owens to Sarah E. Owens, Hitching Post Road, $100.
Amy C. Glynn to Lucia Monge and Brian James House, 3 Ladyslipper Circle, $830,000.
Yaeko Nagano Wartel to Michael Berins and Tina Berins, 170 East Hadley Road, $265,000.
Allen D. Hadden and Jennifer S. Hadden to Mohammed A. Dastigir and Heekwi Lee Dastigir, 25 Salem Place, $191,500.
Daniel L. Wright and Kie J. Kuwabara to Andrew E. Smith, trustee, Nancy A. Smith, trustee, and Smith Investment Trust, 15 Alyssum Drive, $830,000.
Aaron J. Britt, Sharon L. Britt and Shawn D. Britt to Kwan H. Lee and Hea Lee, 91 East Hadley Road, $370,000.
Katarina J. Hallonblad and James A. Helling to Jason Lemoine and Elizabeth Lemoine, 16 South Sunset Ave., $775,000.
John A. Cameron, trustee, and John A. Cameron Revocable Trust to Ingo Helmich and Stephanie Miceli, 77 Morgan Circle, $627,000.
Kara Parks Fontenot Sieczkiewicz, trustee, Kara Parks Fontenot, trustee, and Kara Parks Fontenot Revocable Living Trust to 24 Canton Avenue LLC, 24 Canton Ave., $438,000.
Sandri Realty Inc., to Amir Mikhchi and Fatemeh Giahi, 40 Belchertown Road, $400,000.
Gonzalo Aguilar and Angela Arbelaez to Leslie Ellis, 33 Magnolia Lane, $651,000.
VBC Rentals LLC, to Joshua Cox, 29 Old Amherst Road, $429,800.
Brian A. Duprey and Janell B. Duprey to Wyatt B. Couture, 30 Jasons Way, $725,000.
Loring M. Caney and Lourdes G. Caney to Luke G. Caney and Natalie G. Caney, 111 Daniel Shays Highway, $100.
Kirk B. Stephens to Principal Property Management LLC, Daniel Shays Highway, $104,900.
Robert A. Heinimann and Robert A. Heinimann Jr., to Debra Monday and Shonn K. Monday, Old Chester Road, Lot 2, $42,000.
Scott Caron, representative, and Alfred L. Caron, estate, to Plata O Plomo Inc., 7 Herrick Road, $100,000.
Emerald REO LLC, to Mark Sagendorph, David H. Peters and Charles K. Wilson, 289 Palmer Road, $225,000.
John Degnan to Sylvia Forcier, 62 6th St., $55,000.
Margery J. Wilburn, Charles L. Stanton, James E. Stanton and Jacqueline A. Stanton to Massachusetts Comm Conservation & Recreation, Haynes Hill Road, $150,000.
Paul Vasil, trustee, Hisao T. Kushi, trustee, Michio Kushi Generations Trust, trustee of, and Domestic Trust Midori Hayashi Kushi Qualified, trustee of, to Hull Forestlands LP, Dunhamtown Palmer Road, $50,000.
Hull Forestlands LP, and William B. Hull to David Shultz, trustee, Jennifer Schultz, trustee, and Beecher
Hill Nominee Trust, trustee of, Bromley Road, $165,000.
Blackrock BNG Group LLC, to Mindruns Properties LLC, 62-66 Dwight St., $1,150,000.
Christine J. King, Frederick J. Bozek, Helene R. Bozek and Stephanie Ann Fontaine to Brendan Lalumiere, 93 Beauregard Terrace, $287,000.
David J. Marra and Jessica Olejarz to David J. Marra, 96 Mitchell Drive, Unit U4, $35,000.
Degaulle N. Litoma and Julianna Torres to Vita Filippone, 570-572 Chicopee St., $425,000.
Eric Paul Reiprich to Equity Trust Co., custodian, Robert Lereau Ira and Robert Lareau, 111 Claire St., $88,600.
JTT Realty LLC, to Mehmet Karaca, 126 Ludlow Road, $485,000.
Richard R. Asselin, trustee, Carole A. Asselin, trustee, and 20 Newell Street Realty Trust, trustee of, to John J. Flynn and Cameron Flynn, 20 Newell St., $283,500.
Mountain Stream LLC, to Ross A.N. Lama and Rachel A. Rice, Packard Road, $45,000.
Kirsten Oxboel to Jason M. Levy and Kathleen A. Pierce, 108 North Hillside Road, $675,000.
Felix Rodriguez and Lindsay Rodriguez to Elizabeth Brown, 121 Sand Gully Road, $430,000.
Carol McConnell and John T. McConnell to Bryant John Crubaugh and Riley Olivia Mummah, 35 King Philip Ave., $574,900.
Adam Czachorowski and Katherine Donnelly to Brian Colleran and Katherine E. Goodall, 300 Conway Road, $557,000.
Connie Stulgis and Lee K. Stulgis to Trinh Nguyen and Peter Tran, 42 East Circle Drive, $625,000.
Donald J. Coughlin Jr., and Cynthia T. Coughlin to Cassandra Gisolfi and Giovanni Gisolfi, 109 Nottingham Drive, $720,000.
Giovanni Francesco Gisolfi and Cassandra Gisolfi to Michael Scavotto and Paula R. Purdy, 31 Yorkshire Place, $550,000.
Happy Acres LLC, to Dominick Pellegrino and Nicole Pellegrino, Farmer Circle, Lot 17, $199,000.
Happy Acres LLC, to John A. Grimaldi, Happy Acres Lane, Lot 11, $175,000.
Happy Acres LLC, to Keith Johnson
and Paula Johnson, Happy Acres Lane, Lot 6, $199,000.
Happy Acres LLC, to Priscilla Youngyi Choi and Noah Seungbong Choi, Farmer Circle, Lot 15, $199,000.
Happy Acres LLC, to Rosanny Amaro, Farmer Circle, Lot 18, $200,000.
Michael Carabetta to Mukeshbhai Patel, 125 Lasalle St., $540,000.
Smith Realty & Investments Co., to W2 Properties LLC, 3 James St., $290,000.
Elizabeth R. Crocker, Elizabeth R. Pinard and Calvin Crocker to Vicki Ilene Grodsky and Daniel M. Styklunas, 7 Beechwood Ave., $527,000.
James W. Hill, trustee, Martha Elizabeth Ture, trustee, Hill-Ture Trust and Hill-Ture 2013 Trust to Suresh R. Madhwapathy, 233 Park St., $384,000.
PAH Properties LLC, to Dennis Joseph Meehan III, and Elizabeth King Young, 13 Sterling Drive, $509,000.
Eve Endicott to Patrick Casey, 9 Lang Ave., $650,000.
Marc L. LaFlamme and Bruce A. LaFlamme to DGL Properties LLC, East Street, $108,000.
Kaylee A. Bean, Kaylee A. Quenneville and Brett Anthony Bean to Deanna L. Veinotte and Bruce Veinotte, 201 Amherst St., $750,000.
John Dearing II, and Laurie Dearing to Christopher T. Howell, 55 Pleasant St., and 6 Crescent Valley, $300,000.
Stephen R. Poulin and Kimberly Salditt-Poulin to Daniel B. Walsh, trustee of the DeeBee Realty Trust, 147-149 School St., $340,000.
Molly L. Viens to Susan Carroll, 4 Keegan Lane, Unit E, “aka” Unit 4E, College Park Condominium, $264,500.
Amy M. O’Rourke to Daniel T. Chunglo Jr., 42 Cemetery Road and 44 Cemetery Road, $91,500.
Randall G. Stokes and Jo Ann E. Stokes to Manuel Morocho and Rosa A. Yunga Morocho, 68 North Maple St., $420,000.
Randall G. Stokes and Jo Ann Stokes to Manuel Morocho and Rosa A. Yungo Morocho, North Maple Street, $26,000.
Amy M. O’Rourke to Robert S. Niedbala, 30 Cemetery Road, $30,000.
Bercume Construction LLC, to Emily Cornelia Nutwell and Brian Mills Nutwell, 1 Colony Drive, $801,000.
Peter H. Lehndorff to Lynne Franciose, 405 Main St., $225,000.
Michael Packard to Donna Lynn Rowe, 113 Depot Road, $440,000.
Antonia S. Young and Richard Young to Timothy John Skavis and Cassie Comtois, 14 Union Road, $355,000.
Walter Estates LLC, to Bennett Wightman and Gale Wightman, 3 Roberts Park Road, $220,000.
Anthony Hernandez-Santiago Jr., to Franchesca Ruiz, 48 Clemente St., $226,000.
Ellen Correa, Diana E. Yousfi and Emily R. Yousfi to Gabriel Quaglia, 7-9 Myrtle Ave., $430,000.
Joan E. Erwin and Ellen Leboeuf to Appleton Grove LLC, 1 Fairfield Ave., $124,500.
Luis Rosado-Cardona and Kevin A. Morales to Juan Carlos Nunez, 4 Columbia St., $460,000.
Steven J. Rogers, Carolyn A. Rogers and Carolyn A. Rogers Harris to Benjamin Henry Normandin, 11 Gordon Drive, $255,000.
Joseph W. Dubois Sr. Irrevocable Trust, trustee of, Joseph W. Dubois Jr., trustee, and Joseph W. Dubois Sr., to Jennifer T. Walsh and Collin Glasow, 17 Steven Drive, $300,000.
Ivy Jennifer McClaflin to Leah M. Wilson, 1 Allen Coit Road, $215,000.
Donald H. Cormier, trustee, and 126 Berwick Road Realty Trust, trustee of, to Matthew M. Paige and Deborah J. Paige, 126 Berwick Road, $425,000.
Douglas L. Soder and Penny B. Soder to Laura Deluca, 33 Forest Glen Road, $805,000.
Frank DiBenedetto, trustee, and 11 Pineridge Drive Realty Trust, trust-
ee of, to Raymond Lewis Mitchell and Frances Milagros Centeno, 25 Andover Road, $415,000.
James P. Blain and Anne Margaret Blain to Carol M. C. Samble, 102 Primrose Drive, $600,000.
Scott J. Gomes-Ganhao, Scott J. Ganhao, Stephanie M. Gomes-Ganhao and Stephanie M. Gomes to Leslie Bennett, 87 Barclay St., $449,000.
Atwater Investors Inc., to Cheryl T. Boisselle, 353 Fuller St., Unit 47, $309,900.
Augusto Ferreira and Cacilda Ferreira to Tiago Andre Boacas Martins and Jeffrey Charles Dias, 87 Hubbard St., $150,000.
Cheryl A. Barker, representative, Beverely A. Barry, estate, and Elizabeth A. Crawford, representative, to Manuel R. Coelho, trustee, Georgette C. Coelho, trustee, and Manuel & Georgette Coelho Family Trust, trustee of, 11 Daisy Lane, $520,000.
Clayton S. Booth and Mykayla Booth to Kyung Chan Hyun and Mia Hwang, 565-567 East St., $362,000.
Joanne Bobrek and Miroslav Bobrek to Joanne E. Holtje, 60 McLean Parkway, $435,000.
Judy A. Cowles and Judy A. Perry to Emiliana Palmer and Joseph O’Connor, 88 Pondview Drive, $287,000.
Michael T. Charron, trustee, and Amelia B. Charron Family Trust, trustee of, to Alden Pond Properties LLC, 0 Shawinigan Drive, $310,000.
Monica J. Donegan, estate, Diane S. Rock, representatative, and Monica E. Panek, representative, to Sharif Bilodeau and Maria Savageau, 23 New Crest St., $415,000.
Monika M. Konopko to Thomasina Frimpong-LeClair, 377 Woodland Circle, $556,500.
Whitetail Wreks LLC, to Brandon McCarthy, Turning Leaf Road, Lot 82, $164,900.
Deanna Veinotte and Bruce Veinotte to Travis Neidlinger Stables LLC, 147 Wales Road, $999,999.
Chandra L. Hancock and Patrick S. Pezzati to Andre Morris, 21 Franklin St., $336,000.
Douglas Dedischew to Donald LeBreux Jr., Sequoia R. LeBreux and Graham Skorupa, 53-55 Turners Falls Road, $360,000.
Carleigh Dlugosz, “fka” Carleigh M. Niedzwiedz, and Jacob S. Dlugosz to Mariah Monson and William Schulze, 306 Montague City Road, $340,000.
Katherine E. Van Keuren Blair to Olivia Cifrino and Jason Ewas, 58 Prospect St., $445,000.
Michele Lynn Ruschhaupt to Painted Rock Four LLC, 12 Vernon St., $664,000.
Amanda C. Dixon, Charles Bado and Jennifer Whitcomb to Milton Baker, trustee, Ruthanne Baker, trustee, and Baker Investment Trust, 40 Ridgewood Terrace, $705,000.
John R. Copen, trustee, and Herman Copen Revocable Trust to Seamus Currie, 80 Damon Road, $173,000.
Denise M. Diminuco, Karla J. O’Neill, Lois A. Boulanger, Paul E. Robichaud, Bruce I. Robichaud and Lorraine M. Zalesky to Susan W. Chichester and Anne E. Chichester, 43 Wilson Ave., $630,000.
Kevin C. Dodge to Joshua Voight-Poirier, 10 Moss Brook Road, $85,000.
Clayton J. Lizak, trustee, and John W. Lizak Revocable Indenture of Trust of, trustee of, to Dario Camacho, Kristine A. Camacho and Kristine A. Miele, Saint John Street, $38,000.
Joseph E. Messer to Deborah Ann Williams, 198 Bourne St., $121,000.
Lisa M. Hague to Yamel Cabrera, 50 Meadowbrook Lane, Unit 50, $250,000.
Sharon Langlitz to Andrew Palmer and Ashley Palmer, 10 Fieldstone Drive, $600,000.
George W. Goodman and Lydia Long to Timothy Pachirat and Samantha Pachirat, 17 Buffam Road, $800,000.
Amerihome Mortgage Co LLC, to Thomas Andrew Carriker and Donna Lorraine Carriker, 305 Main St., $225,425.
Deanna Ridgway and Carl W. Ridgway III, to Cody Payson, 114 Dickinson Hill Road, $440,000.
Louis E. Garlo, Laura H. LaFreniere, Lynn M. Huff, Anne V. Fisk and
Mary E. Brush to Jestyna Paige Peatman, 70 Ridgewood Drive, $295,000.
Wicked Deals LLC, to Saje Home Services LLC, 434 Blandford Road, $220,000.
Mark W. Gingras and Gail Gingras to David Taus and Erin Saladin, 21 Highland Ave., $500,000.
Emily C. Dannen and Michael J. Dannen to Eric W. Perkins and Erica C. Wheeler-Perkins, 140 Pine Grove Drive, $333,000.
Sarah R. Zurheide, personal representative, and Christopher F. Zurheide, estate, to Jason C. Zurheide, 4 Country Lane, $285,000.
Brenda J. Jerome and William F. Jerome to 54 Canal LLC, 54 Canal St., $325,000.
David A. Schoen and Denise M. Schoen to Craig M. Schoen and Samantha L. Schoen, 14 Glendale Woods Drive, $575,000.
Eric A. Swensen and Jamie L. Swensen to James P. Pashko and Tara R. Pashko, 17 Ranch Club Road, $955,000.
James P. Pashko and Tara R. Pashko to Christopher L. Cotto, 17 Noble Steed Crossing, $672,000.
Randall Cable, Monica J. Liberti, Monica J. Cable and Joseph P. Liberti to Robert Payne, 6 Babb Road, $340,000.
Robert C. Cohen to Joel D. Faria, 27 Charles Johnson Road, $115,000.
Alexus L. Renee to Elvis Presinal, 12-14 Osgood St., $299,999.
Anthony M. Santaniello to Vignesh Nehru, 440 Sumner Ave., $475,000.
Anusha Kothapalli to Matthew Newell and Anna Gould, 21 Weymouth St., $352,000.
Benny Moreno and Francisco Dejesus to Juan Daniel Marte, 51-53 Horace St., $360,000.
Christian Brandrick to Tyler Narey and Brenna E. Day, 85 Lancaster St., $286,000.
Daniel A. Burke to Jannette Brown, 116 Colorado St., $291,500.
Darren G. Owens to Iris Serrano-Melendez, 1408 Worcester St., $360,000.
DLJ Mortgage Capital Inc., to Yeslin Gonzalez, 42 Daytona St., $175,098.
Edward A. Abraham, trustee, Edward A. Abraham 2022 Trust,
trustee of, Wendy S. Abraham, trustee, and Wendy S. Abraham 2022 Trust, trustee of, to Tomas Hernandez Garcia and Lidia Perez Perez, 14-16 Langdon St., $337,000.
Revival Time Evangelistic Center to J. C. Williams Community Center Inc., 116 Florence St., $100. Felianyeli Espinal, Ramona Ortega Perez and Eleno Urena Cruz to Rebekah Zamarripa and Florentino Zamarripa, 163 Pineywoods Ave., $340,000.
Hedge Hog Industries Corp., to Fearlessrose Vacation Rental LLC, 60-62 Newland St., $230,000.
James B. Morrissey Jr., trustee, John Swift, trustee, and Springfield Ventures Realty Trust, trustee of, to Brian A. Ardizoni, 51 Monroe St., $315,000.
Jannette Brown to Bharati N. Reejhsinghani, 173 Mallowhill Road, $250,000.
JJJ17 LLC, to Franchesca Martinez and Maria S. Martinez, 28 Medford St., $285,000.
JJJ17 LLC, to Yarylie Noemi Miranda Cruz, 95 Margerie St., $253,000.
Lachenauer LLC, to Madeline I. Baez Morales, 89 St. James Boulevard, $250,000.
Lawrence L. Croteau to West Jam Man LLC, 141 Parkerview St., $200,000.
Luz Baez to Rhaixa Cajigas, 120122 Oak Grove Ave., $360,000. Manchester Enterprises LLC, to Robert Patrie Jr., 24 Sue St., $320,000.
Margaret A. O’Malley to James Gutierrez and Wretha Renea Gutierrez, 93 Farnsworth St., $279,500.
Mark D. McCombe to Tetyana Syrotenko and Valentyna Syrotenko, 99 Talbot Road, $300,000.
Mark P. Dedeurwaerder to Zachary J. Giordano, 31 Overlea Drive, $300,000.
MDDO LLC, to Elizabeth Moyet and Juan Ortiz, 103-105 Maryland St., $370,000.
Michael J. Theriault, representative, and Jane Colson, estate, to Kevin Lewis, 16 Gary Road, $250,000.
Michael O. Jennings, representative, and Kimberly S. Jennings, estate, to JJJ17 LLC, 81 Rockland St., $175,000.
Next Level Investments LLC, to Lucy A. Daveiga, 91-93 Lebanon St., $299,900.
Rehab Home Buyers LLC, to Jason D. Brown and Marineusa P. Brown, 60-62 Algonquin St., $380,000. Rhonda Pimentel to Jacquelyn Jeanne Day, 13 Grattan St., $315,000.
In lawn care, as in politics, an extreme, black-or-white approach can be impractical and turn off the masses. But in the garden, at least, gray can be the perfect shade of green.
Take, for instance, the No Mow May movement. Is it necessary to allow your entire property to turn into a weedy meadow for a whole month? No. But allowing nature to do its thing in a corner of the yard can help the birds and pollinators we depend on.
Should we rip out all our non-native plants and replace them with natives? That would be ideal, but if it isn’t practical, removing invasives and incorporating native plants among your well-behaved exotics will help wildlife and improve sustainability in your garden.
And that brings us to the much-maligned lawn. Fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides and the gas-powered equipment used to maintain common turf grasses contribute to air and groundwater pollution, while the lawn itself provides little ecological value in terms of food and shelter for pollinators and other beneficial insects.
In 2005, NASA satellites
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Robert Hayes Jr., to Lizeth Anahi Patino Rodriguez, 6 Venture Dr, $335,000.
Robert S. Allen, representative, Edward Howard Allen, estate, Edward H. Allen, estate, and Edward Allen, estate, to Nicolas Montes Soza, 312-314 Franklin St., $417,500.
Round Two LLC, to Akim Duncan, 57-59 Eloise St., $395,000.
Sareen Properties LLC, to Exon A. Redondo Bueso, 44 Bruce St., $310,000.
SFMG Capital LLC, to Campagnari Construction LLC, 234-236 Union St., $350,000.
Steven E. Mrowzinski and Michelle Travis-Mrowzinski to DDMNS Realty LLC, 732 Cottage St., $300,000. Stop & Shop Supermarket Co., LLC, to NG Land Holdings LLC, Allen
found that more than 40 million acres of the continental U.S. are covered in lawn. That’s three times the amount of land used for corn crops. The estimate is still used today.
“An individual, quarter-acre lawn isn’t a big ecological influence, but adding up all those quarter-acres for everyone in the country … the ecological impact could be pretty big,” NASA researcher Cristina Milesi said at the time.
even once, or you may have to start over. Sow more seeds every week and keep them lightly moist until the grass fills in densely, which will choke out weeds naturally. When it reaches 3 inches high, you can begin mowing.
For small lawns, use a push mower instead of an exhaust-spewing, gas-powered model. For larger areas, consider a rechargeable electric mower. You’ll reap financial
More than 40 million acres of the continental U.S. are covered in lawn.
Yet it isn’t likely that everyone reading this will give up their entire lawn. So let’s talk about sustainable ways to care for it.
Mindful lawn care
If your lawn is large, consider replacing part of it with flower beds and borders, or a groundcover like clover. Then, embark on a thoughtful maintenance program.
Don’t fight your climate. Research turf grass types and select ones that thrive best in your region. Aerate the soil and spread seeds in two directions. Water deeply just once, then sprinkle daily to keep seeds moist. Don’t let them dry out
Street, $2,100,000.
Vita C. Filippone, Vita Carmilla Filippone and Preston Louis Sharp to Sean Baker, 61 Spencer St., $230,000.
Vita C. Filippone, Vita Carmilla Filippone and Preston Sharp to JBK Capital Advisors LLC, WS Spencer St, $1,350.
Tallage Brooks LLC, to Wicked Deals LLC, 29 Aspen St., $40,000.
Linda F. Ricko and Linda Kopec to Jose Rosario and Cherish Racine, 32 Eagle St., $175,000.
Karen L. Lackman and George Lackman Jr., to April G. Kubaska and David T. Kubaska, 54 Marjorie St., $280,000.
Jennifer L. Leclair to Zachary T. Leclair, 33 Gould Road, $138,000.
Home Improvement Maintenance LLC, to Kaleena Fadden and Christopher Fadden, 3 Berkshire Circle, $430,000.
and ecological benefits. Regardless of mower type, keep blades sharpened for clean cuts that heal before insects and diseases move in to take advantage of your convalescing grass. Most turf varieties thrive best when kept at about 3 inches tall. Learn what’s recommended for your species and set your mower height accordingly. Never remove more than one-third of grass height in a single session.
The trifecta of lawn woes weeds, insect infestations and diseases moves in when lawns aren’t well cared for, so it’s important to improve soil and grass health from the ground up.
Stephanie L. Henley to James Robert Bergeron and Rachel Bergeron, 16 Meadow Road, $324,000.
Charles W. Thomas to Michele M. Maltais and Gregg A. Lesperance, 19 Shoreline Drive, $450,000.
Michelle A. Eckert to Olivia Ricci, 16 Warebrook Drive, $230,000.
Avvy Holding Group LLC, to Angel Gabriel Roman Garcia Jr., and Joelimar Arroyo Collazo. M.S., 59 West Main St., $250,000.
Diane Mango-Cahill, James Mango and Steven Mango to MAA Property LLC, 86 Birnie Ave., $160,000.
Erin R. McDonnell to Aritza Kelis Sanchez, 1241 Elm St., Unit 3A, $155,000.
Lynn M. Dodge to Mary Ann Pashko and Francis E. Pashko, 21 Lina Lane, Unit LL21, $137,000.
VRC Realty LLC, to Armor Fire Technologies Inc., 414 Park St., $485,000.
Test your soil’s pH. Most turf grasses thrive best in levels between 6.3 and 6.8. If your soil tests below that range, apply lime in the amounts recommended on the package. If the pH is higher than the range, use sulfur to lower it. Never apply either of these amendments (or allow your landscaper to) as a matter of routine.
Always test first to determine if there’s a need.
Agnes Schenna to Diane M. Mayhew and Dennis P. Mayhew, 89 Westwood Drive, $475,000.
Brian T. Houser, Brian J. Houser and Elba E. Houser to Holly DeSantis, 17 Rita Mary Way, $665,010.
EDC Real Estate LLC, to Samantha LaPlante, 194 Holyoke Road, $269,900.
U S A Housing & Urban Development to Wayne A. Bush and Jessica L. Bush, 200 Hillside Road, $182,516.
Ivan Biley Sr., and Olga Biley to Olga Biley, life estate, Ivan Biley Sr., life estate, and Vladislav Biley, 43 Foch Ave., $110,000.
Jennifer Y. Collins to Emily Yousfi, Diana Yousfi and Ellen Correa, 64 Blueberry Ridge, $600,000.
Jonathan S. Flagg and Sandra G. Flagg to Alexander Sullivan, 44 1/2 Noble St., $410,000.
Mark Stec and Zophia Stec to Joseph P. Liberti and Monica J. Liberti,
Water. Fertilizer. Pesticides.
A deep root system will sustain the lawn during hot, dry spells, allowing it to find underground water sources from a larger area. Encourage it by providing less frequent but longer watering sessions. Short, daily (or twice daily) sessions will moisten only the soil surface, providing no reason for roots to travel downward in search of moisture.
30 Radisson Lane, $495,000.
Milan P. Peich Jr., to Connor A. Pouska, 63 Russellville Road, $282,000.
Terry A. Lonczak, Donna J. Zeiner and Virginia K. St. Onge to Katie Serra, 66 Grandview Drive, $315,000.
Timothy J. Blais and Christine A. Blais to Ryan Christopher Wilcox, 246 Springdale Road, $412,000.
William F. Reed trustee, and William F. Reed Family Nominee Trust, trustee of, to Giberson Construction Inc., 0 Montgomery Road, $302,250.
Mark G. Curtin to Mark G. Curtin and Erin B. Curtin, 10 Pine St., 12 Pine St., 12R Pine St., and 9 Pine St., $100.
Jerrilee Cain, trustee, and Jerrilee Cain Revocable Trust to Vance G. Richardson and Clark G. Pearce, 591 Old Post Road, $700,000.
A strip of lawn, including grass and clover, winds between flower beds in a yard in Westchester County, N.Y. There are ways to keep some lawn and maintain it in a way more beneficial to pollinators. (JULIA RUBIN)A front door color can make or break your home’s curb appeal. The perfect shade and finish are more than just eye candy; they set the tone for your entire home.
“I work a lot in the city with rowhouses, and you’re either working with brick or painted brick,” says D.C. designer Christopher Boutlier. “Black high gloss is such a contrast to those materials that it makes it feel special. But I think outside of that, if the house is feeling very kind of drab, I think a color is nice.”
The taste-the-rainbow opportunities of front door colors have a nostalgic factor for Portland, Ore.-based designer Max Humphrey. “The first rule about door paint colors is you have to pick something that’s different from your neighbors,” he says. “Those of us that grew up without GPS remember the time when you would use your front door as the sort of signifier of your house: If friends were coming over, or deliveries, you would say, ‘It’s the house with the yellow door!’”
One thing to note: Most design professionals we interviewed suggested hiring a professional painter to do your door justice. Otherwise, you run the risk of an imperfect finish. Here, designers share the front door paint colors that knock them off their feet.
Tracy Morris applied Benjamin Moore’s Narragansett Green in a satin finish to the front door of her McLean, Va., home, to play against the modern farmhouse style. “It’s a color that pops because it has a lot of navy blue in the base. … I wanted something to give the front a little kick in the pants.” This color works, she says, because it “has enough punch but still works very, very well with all the neutral tones that are surrounding it.”
Brinjal
Designer Anne Pulliam recently selected Farrow & Ball’s Brinjal No. 222 for a 1915 rowhouse in Richmond. “It’s probably my favorite color: a wine-colored plum. I love that it’s playful and fun,” Pulliam says. She used a high-gloss lacquer finish paint from Fine Paints of Europe to make “it feel a little bit dressier.” Pulliam also used the color throughout the home’s interior, so the door sets the tone for the palette. “The family that lives there is young and fun, and they love color,” she says.
“I like yellows or golds: bright, warm colors,” Humphrey says, adding that they were a fixture in New England, where he grew up. “I like the optimism that the yellow door projects it feels like you’ll be going into an inviting household.” He recently painted a front door Chartreuse by Benjamin Moore. “It’s sunshine-y, obviously. … Here in Oregon where I live, it’s a reminder that the sun will come out one day.”
Greek Villa
“Five years ago, everybody was wanting those bright, lacquered colored front doors,” says Ashley Hanley, a designer in Richmond. “Most of my clients right now are really kind of gravitating more towards neutral color palettes for the exterior.” Hanley has been using stained wood doors a lot, as well as Sherwin-Williams’s Greek Villa. “It’s the perfect shade of cream, in my opinion,” she says. “It’s not a stark white it’s a really beautiful, rich cream color.” She recently used it on a home inspired by a historic tavern in Colonial Williamsburg for a truly classic look.
Hale Navy
One common door color mistake Morris has seen again and again is when people “choose a tone that is
Most grasses need about 1 ½ inches of water per week, including rainfall. Adjust irrigation sessions accordingly.
Understand that cool-season grasses like Kentucky bluegrass, rye and fescues are supposed to go dormant during summer. Warm-season species like Bermuda St. Augustine and Zoysia grasses sleep over the winter. It’s normal for them to turn brown during their off-seasons. Let them.
just truly too bright for their house. … You’ve got to make sure to watch the acidy green tones in colors that will make your hair stand on edge. It’s just way too bright!” Mark Kaufman, principal of GTM Architects, likes darker shades, such as Benjamin Moore’s Hale Navy, a deep blue. “My favorite front door colors are dependent on the architectural style of the home,” Kaufman says. “Traditional houses look great with deeper colors.”
Coach Green
Coach Green, from Fine Paints of Europe, “often works really well, especially if you have a brick house or a lot of greenery” Boutlier says. “If there are … side-yard fences and things that are visible with the house, it also can be really nice because it provides a little bit of contrast. If you have dark shutters, it can make the door just feel a little bit more special.”
Caviar
Black “doesn’t pop in a bright and colorful way, but it pops in making your house look really nice and refined and kind of gives it an elevated feel,” says Leigh Jendrusina of Salthouse Collective in Carlsbad, Calif. “It always looks and feels really crisp and beautiful.” Her black of choice: Caviar by Sherwin-Williams, in a semigloss or satin finish. “It’s a pretty, crisp black, but it’s got a little bit of softness to it.”
Personally, I don’t fertilize my grass or use synthetic pesticides in my garden. I maintain a small lawn to define my perennial beds and allow common turf grass weeds to run rampant. Once mowed, it’s all green to me. If that’s too drastic for you, replace your lawn fertilizer with mulched grass clippings. As they decompose, they’ll provide a free, natural source of nitrogen that, unlike synthetic nitrogen fertilizers, won’t risk contaminating groundwater or running off to fertilize plants at the water table and upsetting the natural plant and wildlife hierarchy.
If you don’t have a mulching mower, remove the bag and mow over the expelled clippings to chop them, then spread them over the lawn instead of sending them to a landfill.
If you still want to use fertilizer, opt for a slow-release product and follow the dosing instructions on the package. Lawns cannot utilize more than the recommended amount, so any excess applied may result in leaching and salt buildup that will alter soil chemistry, adversely affect grass and increase thatch buildup. It’s also a waste of money.
Using insecticides to kill pests also kills beneficial insects that help keep your lawn healthy. Earthworms, ground beetles, ladybugs and praying mantids, among others, eat harmful pests, aerate the soil and aid in the decomposition that nourishes soil. Your lawn needs them.
PUBLIC AUCTION THURSDAY, JUNE
• 2000 FREIGHTLINER BOX TRUCK •
MARIA M. OMUOLO AND FRANCIS K. WARUINGI (IN BANKRUPTCY CHAPTER 7, CASE NO. 24-30023-EDK) (MOVED FOR CONVENIENCE OF SALE TO) 160 TAPLEY STREET SPRINGFIELD, MA TO BE SOLD ON THE PREMISES
LAND: ±46 Acres • ±2,640 S/F Frontage on Russell Street • Corner of Russell & Maple Streets • Paved Parking for ±1,700 Vehicles • Public Water & Sewer • Traffic Light (Entrance) • Professionally Landscaped • Zoned: B (Business District) • Parcel ID: 10D-001A-0000 • IMPROVEMENTS: Single Story Regional Shopping Mall w/ Partial Upper Level • ±469,644 Total S/F • ±342,631 S/F of Leasable Space • Tar & Gravel Flat Roof • Ceramic Tile & Carpeted Floors • Gas Forced Hot Air Heat • • CentralAir Conditioning • (4) Loading Docks • Street Signage • • Wet Sprinklered • Individually Metered •
FRIDAY, JUNE 28TH at 11:00 A.M. TRUSTEE’S SALE OF REAL ESTATE • SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS • (3) MIXED USE COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS
“CORNER OF WHITE STREET & SUMNER AVENUE” SUMMER AVE, LLC (IN BANKRUPTCY CHAPTER 7 CASE NO. 22-30140-EDK) • 427-429 White Street • 431-435 White Street • 752-760 Sumner Avenue SPRINGFIELD, MA To Be Sold In It’s Entirety On The Premises www.posnik.com
